Now that we are in the midst of another holiday season when our thoughts turn to good tidings and well wishes, we also begin the often difficult task of deciding on the best gift for ourselves and loved ones. Gifts for our kids tend to be fairly easy, since they usually want or “need” everything they see. Where does that leave us, the adults? Sure, there are plenty of clothes, gadgets or trinkets we can buy because we are feeling generous, prosperous or affluent. But these aren’t the things that really matter. For those we care about we don’t usually wish them a new iPod or new necklace, we wish them love, good health, and a long life. But merely wishing for things does not make them happen. Instead of just wishing for health and a long life, consider giving the gift that can help it come true. read more…

Yes! That is exactly what your answer would be if asked whether or not you wanted something that could improve your energy, stamina, heart health, immune function, mood, mental acuity and sexual satisfaction. What one molecule can do all of that? Nitric Oxide (NO), one of your body’s most important signaling molecules. It is released as a gas that quickly sends signals through every cell, organ and system in your body. NO signals arteries to relax and expand, immune cells to kill bacteria and cancer cells, and signals brain cells to communicate with each other. NO is critical for overall optimal health but its most notable function is within the cardiovascular system where blood flow is vital. read more…

Actice Surveillance is a method of monitoring men with low risk prostate cancer without the need for aggressive treatment like surgery or radiation therapy. Until recently, a man with an elevated PSA ended up with a biopsy and radical prostatectomy if cancer was found. That is despite the fact that most prostate cancer is slow growing and most men will die from something other than their prostate cancer. read more…

Within each of your cells there are pieces of DNA that determine how quickly you age. These end caps on your chromosomes, called telomeres, were long thought to be junk-DNA since they did not code for any genes like the rest of the chromosomal DNA. But in 2009, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three scientists who uncovered the role that telomeres play in aging and disease. We now know that telomeres are essentially the biological clocks within the cell determining how quickly your cells are aging. The shorter your telomeres, the older your cells and therefore your body behaves. The length of your telomeres is also closely associated with your risk of developing chronic diseases, like heart disease, arthritis and cancer. The good news is that your telomere length is not static; you can change it based on how you live your life. read more…

We have a major drug problem here in the US. No, I am not talking about illicit street drugs. I am referring to prescription medications that are supposed to help people. In the US every year, more people die from taking prescription medication than illegal drugs; by as much as a factor of ten. In fact, drug deaths, primarily from prescription medications, outnumber deaths from traffic accidents (LA Times). Who is protecting us from this public health crisis? Is the FDA negligent or merely ineffective? read more…

Dr. Desmond Ebanks of Alternity Healthcare focuses on men’s health issues. He answered questions about his practice for Avon LIFE.

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Desmond Ebanks of Avon opened Alternity Healthcare more than three years ago with the goal of helping aging patients prevent degenerative diseases and enjoy a better quality of life. His approach focuses on preventing the onset of such life-sapping conditions as heart disease and diabetes, and on instituting healthy living regimens that balance hormones and build strength. He works with both men and women in his practice, but finds men initially more reluctant to seek medical help.

It should be very encouraging that the average cholesterol numbers for Americans has dropped over the last twenty years. A recent study found that trend even in those that did not take cholesterol lowering drugs. That was surprising to many experts considering the explosion in obesity during that same time period, and the presumed connection between excess dietary fats, excess body fat and blood cholesterol. This good news must be tempered, however, by another alarming fact: despite all the advances in medicine, statin drugs, stents and balloon angioplasties, and bypass surgery, heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans. And, as our American lifestyle has been exported around the world, it has become the number one killer worldwide. How can these seemingly inconsistent facts be reconciled? read more…